Hi whatisinthename,
Although there is nothing in the name, but everything is in an NOC's name. I just mean that your NOC might be filling fast, so the quickest route is one that of multi-tasking.
You need to
-get IELTS test result report (sooner the better)
-get your highest degree assessed, make arrangements to send asap, and get ECA report
-get documents like Work Experience (very critical) and birth, marriage certificates etc ready
-fill the forms carefully (shouldn't take much time, but keep doing and ask specifics here)
-see if have enough settlement funds, or make arrangement for the same
-getting Police certificate is not mandatory at initial stage, but if possible, request for it now too.
All these things are mentioned in the following application guide in gory details. For the rest and less-understood, come back here. We all are learning by sharing and experience.
Guide : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/EG7TOC.asp
Forms : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/skilled.asp
ECA : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/assessment.asp
PCC : http://www.cic.gc.ca/englisH/information/security/police-cert/index.asp
Funds : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/funds.asp
Regards
PS: A law firm will also ask you to arrange all these documents, but will take care that the application is complete and error-free. It should be your choice depending on the time (and extra money) you have for them. Filling an application is not a complicated task, but one has to be fully aware of all the instructions (as in the links above). This forum, being a mix of people with varied experiences will always have an answer, or educated guess for any type of concern that you might have. On top of it, it makes the application procedure a fun-journey that you might remember forever. It is apparent when you see people who discussed their applications in the past, eventually landed in Canada, and are still here helping the newbies out.
